Don’t feel like reading? Listen instead…
I always had a picture of what my life would be like. We all have this picture. A preconceived notion of how it should be. My picture was of a happy, stable family. A wife that adored me, polite kids (2 or perhaps 3), and two dogs. I wouldn’t peg myself as a materialistic man. The most important things in life can’t be bought. The Bible states that:
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. – Proverbs 19:21
Our biggest problem is that we don’t want to let go of the picture that we had. We had a plan, we invested all this time and energy into OUR plan. Suddenly we’re faced with trials that shake or obliterate our plans. Trials are as natural as the changing of the weather. They come and go.
However, we all want an easy, trial free life. Let’s be fair if, by some sheer luck you have a perfect life, you’re pretty useless in God’s Kingdom. How can you relate to anyone if nothing has ever happened to you? How can you help or guide anyone? You can only help others if you weathered the storm they are in.
Blaming the source
The easiest thing to do is to blame the storm on someone or something. Yes, every storm has a source. It came from somewhere. No amount of fussing can change the situation. Your job is to survive it. Remember in Ephesians 6:12:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Let me be blunt. If you live in an area that’s close to the source of storms. And every season, a storm rolls through and you have to rebuild. Your issue is proximity and you should be distancing yourself from the source. Whether that source is a person or place. Otherwise known as:
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fighting the storm
A storm by its nature is composed of many elements: rain, wind, lighting, etc. A storm is not a single trial. It’s a series of trials. Different, yet related trials. One after the other. While you’re distracted by blaming the source, the storm is going to destroy everything you hold dear. I found a quote the other day that says:
When life puts you in a tough situation, don’t say “Why Me?” Say “Try Me”
What a stupid idea for a storm! Only a mad man will shake his fist at a storm. There’s no bravado when dealing with a force of nature. When a storm hits, you take cover, you’re on your knees and holding tight to the only thing that’s stronger than the storm. You hold on tight to God and brace yourself until the storm passes.
Bitter or Better?
Some storms are unavoidable. It can be literally anything, a worldwide pandemic, retrenchment. You name it. The point is you can’t control it. Personally, I have gone through my life over and over again. There was nothing that could have been done to avoid my storm. No way that I could have avoided the destruction of my marriage. Literally no one saw my storm coming. So it means that my storm was meant for me. Sometimes bad things happen and it sucks but you have to endure it. You have to go into the belly of the beast, the eye of the storm, and come out the other end.
A little battered and bruised but whole so that you can help others going through the same situation. You can’t pretend that life is perfect. You are supposed to use the experience to help others. Otherwise, what was the point of all that suffering? Maybe you have to survive a really bad storm so when you tell people, their storm feels like a light drizzle in comparison. Some storms are God’s Will & is required for us to fulfill our destiny. It’s up to you. Will you be bitter about it or better? Are you prepared to be people’s survival guide to their storm?
My goal is to emulate Jesus and follow his example but if all else fails, I’ll be like David. A writer, a man after God’s own heart and someone not to be trifled with.
I believe in discussing life in a candid (unfiltered), no holds barred manner that stimulates personal growth.
I spend my spare time creating content that is informative, entertaining and that will help others in their personal development.
The Hustle is a project that focuses on career and purpose.
I also have a cooking vlog called Passing it on which is on Facebook and YouTube.
In matters of faith, I contribute to this ministry.
